🙂A single person spends $768 per month in Al-`awabi vs $1,428 in Sohar, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,159 per month in Al-`awabi vs $2,124 in Sohar, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,549 per month in Al-`awabi vs $2,820 in Sohar, rent included.
🙂Al-`awabi is about 46% cheaper than Sohar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Al-`awabi sits 43% below the global median, while Sohar is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.32OMR 2.05
$6.65OMR 2.56
-20.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.36OMR 10.14
$21.08OMR 8.11
25.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.01OMR 2.31
$9.12OMR 3.51
-34.10%
Cappuccino
$4.46OMR 1.72
$7.01OMR 2.70
-36.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80OMR 0.31
$0.64OMR 0.25
25.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25OMR 0.10
$0.25OMR 0.10
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.38OMR 4.00
$13.09OMR 5.04
-20.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.57OMR 4.07
$14.16OMR 5.45
-25.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97OMR 0.76
$2.27OMR 0.87
-13.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22OMR 0.47
$1.06OMR 0.41
15.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64OMR 0.63
$3.33OMR 1.28
-50.75%
Eggs
$2.45OMR 0.94
$2.73OMR 1.05
-10.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.75OMR 1.44
$13.68OMR 5.26
-72.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.88OMR 1.88
$8.89OMR 3.42
-45.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.28OMR 3.19
$14.06OMR 5.41
-41.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.52OMR 0.97
$3.30OMR 1.27
-23.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73OMR 0.67
$2.10OMR 0.81
-17.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78OMR 0.69
$2.58OMR 0.99
-31.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17OMR 0.45
$1.17OMR 0.45
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.00OMR 0.38
$1.75OMR 0.67
-42.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97OMR 0.38
$1.83OMR 0.71
-46.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09OMR 0.42
$1.74OMR 0.67
-37.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53OMR 0.20
$0.98OMR 0.38
-45.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.19OMR 2.38
$5.85OMR 2.25
5.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.63OMR 6.01
$25.86OMR 9.95
-39.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.24OMR 1.63
$3.96OMR 1.52
7.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.90OMR 3.04
$8.79OMR 3.38
-10.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.62OMR 1.01
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$51.3OMR 19.73
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.06OMR 1.18
$3.34OMR 1.28
-8.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80OMR 0.31
$1.60OMR 0.62
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.53OMR 4.05
$10.37OMR 3.99
1.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60OMR 0.23
$0.60OMR 0.23
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KOMR 8,830
$18.2KOMR 7,014
25.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KOMR 8,195
$20.6KOMR 7,921
3.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108OMR 41.44
$102OMR 39.10
5.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.67OMR 15.65
$29.28OMR 11.27
38.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.8OMR 26.85
$87.1OMR 33.52
-19.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$52.4OMR 20.15
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.49OMR 4.04
$11.69OMR 4.50
-10.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$196OMR 75.3
$267OMR 103
-26.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KOMR 3,868
$7,155OMR 2,753
40.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.1OMR 19.65
$50.6OMR 19.48
0.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.03OMR 15.40
$43.88OMR 16.89
-8.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9OMR 30.74
$80.2OMR 30.88
-0.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4OMR 34.40
$46.41OMR 17.86
92.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$497OMR 191
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$383OMR 148
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$780OMR 300
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$683OMR 263
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,184OMR 455
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$775OMR 298
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-`awabi
Sohar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,506OMR 964
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.15
5.62
-8.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al-`awabi: July 11, 2026
Last update for Sohar: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Al-`awabi versus $21.00 in Sohar. Groceries tell a different story – $229 in Al-`awabi vs $347 in Sohar – so Al-`awabi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Al-`awabi vs Sohar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sohar cheaper than Al-`awabi?
Yes – Sohar is pricier by about 86%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,152 per month in Al-`awabi and $2,142 in Sohar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Al-`awabi and in Sohar?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $768 in Al-`awabi and $1,428 in Sohar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $196 per month in Al-`awabi and $267 in Sohar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Al-`awabi or in Sohar?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-`awabi, where all-in costs run around $768, than in Sohar at $1,428. In Al-`awabi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sohar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Al-`awabi or Sohar more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al-`awabi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Al-`awabi or Sohar?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al-`awabi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sohar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.